Westbrook has a great opportunity to invest in its future in the upcoming May 22 school referendum. In order to create a new school to replace the current school, the citizens of Westbrook will be asked to fund the balance of $3,488,788. The state Department of Education will pay for $25,955,688, and the Maine Public Utilities Commission will contribute $120,000 for the energy-saving design. This investment in our community would be a very fruitful one.
Other than creating a new learning environment for the future students of Westbrook, this referendum is also giving us a chance to create a needed community gathering place. The new auditorium that is being proposed will allow the community of Westbrook to come together as a whole in this dynamic facility. No longer will school plays have to be performed on gym stages. Graduation ceremonies can be held locally instead of having to go to a neighboring community. Band and chorus concerts can be held with enough seating and parking for all to attend. Other communities who have included auditoriums in their construction projects have had outside theater groups, cultural fairs and other visual performing arts events use the facility to create revenue.
I see the above investment to be a very prudent one. We are not only investing in the students of Westbrook, but also he community as a whole.
Vote YES on May 22
Joanne Eldridge
Westbrook
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